COMMUNITY & CLUBS:

The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor kicked off its annual movie premiere fundraising drive Thursday at its Ladies Day luncheon, with members writing sponsorship checks totaling more than $35,000.

The movie benefit, featuring soon-to-be-released “Stranger than Fiction” starring Dustin Hoffman and Will Ferrell, will be held at the Lido Theater Nov. 9, said Bill Bechtel, club president.

For 15 years, the movie benefit has raised $850,000 for club charities, said past President Dick Freeman, who was accompanied to the luncheon by his wife, June.

This year, the Los Angeles Times Foundation will provide a 50% match to the funds the event raises, as it has over the past several years. So the club’s goal is $100,000, plus the $50,000 The Times will contribute to the total.

“That will put us over the $1-million mark in fundraising during the past 15 years,” member Bill Barrington said. “Few clubs can say they have raised $1 million for their charities.”

Club member Bob Washer and his son Greg were recognized by event Chairman Art Wardner and Bechtel for their work in securing the movies for the benefit since its inception.

More to come in this column on the movie benefit.

HARBOR MESA LIONS DONATING SCHOOL SUPPLIES

The Harbor Mesa Lions are busy covering shoe boxes to present to the first-graders at Whittier Elementary School for the 10th consecutive year. The boxes will be filled with items the teachers have asked for, such as rulers, pencils, sharpeners, glue and scissors.

Club members will be handing the boxes out Thursday, at 8:30 a.m. at the school. Funds to purchase the supplies are raised at various events each year, such as a Casino Night, Bingo Night and an annual yard sale, member Carol Van Holt said.

Chairing the school supply project are Lions Gina Stansbury and Eunice Thomason. For further information about the project, call (714) 962-0265.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council:

“No person can be a great leader unless they take genuine joy in the successes of those under them.”

— W. A. NANCE

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

OK, folks, we have enjoyed the good life here in Newport Mesa. Rev. Oral Roberts, a world traveler, once told a luncheon meeting of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council that “95% of the world’s population would love to live here!”

Consider sharing your time, talents and treasure with your community and around the world by joining a service club. Visit a service club in September. Check out the club’s website. Most clubs will buy your first meal for you and provide you with a brochure about their club. There is a club that will fit just about everyone’s schedule.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 45-member Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise meets at Five Crowns in Corona del Mar to hear Mark Barbour, curator of the International Printing Museum; www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

Noon: The 22-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Karl Strauss Brewery, 901 South Coast Dr., Costa Mesa.

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Redhill Avenue and Bristol Street.

Noon: The 27-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

6 p.m.: The 56-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by John Fullerton of the Boy Scouts of America on the new Outdoor Education Center; www.newportbalboa.org.

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Cafe for a program by Jess Bequette.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday Inn, www.kiwanis.org/club /costamesa; the 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear its phantom past President Bob Cuyler give his club a forecast and assignments for this weekend’s ninth annual Pacific Coast Triathlon; the 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Nautical Museum for a business meeting; the 85-member Newport-Irvine Rotary Club meets at the Radisson Hotel, www.nirotary.org.